McCool makes immediate impact with Spitfires

by Evan Mathias

 

The newest member of the Windsor Spitfires, Hayden McCool has made an immediate impact to start his tenure with the club.

The 17-year-old has recorded five points in five games since being acquired from the Niagara IceDogs back on Nov 14. He, along with three second-round draft picks was sent to the Spitfires. In exchange, Windsor dealt its leading scorer at the time, Josh Ho-Sang back to the IceDogs.

According to McCool, having early offensive success isn’t something he expected to happen, but he was hoping he could come in and make an impact.

“When you get an opportunity this good and you’re playing this much you want to make the most of it, because it doesn’t happen very often,” said McCool. “I’ve been fortunate enough to play with good players… shoot the puck too, when you can, and that’s also how you get some points.”

While players go through a transition period, learning new systems and getting used to playing with new players, McCool has done so seamlessly.

“It was tough at first, my family came down the day it happened or the day after it happened and they told me that everything was going to be alright and I’d get through it,” said McCool. “I kept telling myself it’s for the better and it’s for the best for me and it’s a good opportunity here.”

McCool, who was drafted sixth overall in the 2013 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection, becomes the second first-round pick the Spitfires have acquired from Niagara. Windsor claimed rookie centre, Logan Brown in August in exchange for six draft picks. Brown was also selected sixth overall by the IceDogs at this year’s OHL Priority Selection.

When Windsor traded for McCool it filled a void in it’s lineup from the 2013 OHL Priority Selection when the Spitfires were without a first-round pick.

“We’re getting a top-ten pick from last year’s draft injected into our lineup, a kid with tremendous potential and I think coming over to Windsor here, he’s getting more of an opportunity and a top-six role and playing on our power play as well,” said Spitfires assistant coach, Jerrod Smith. “For whatever reason he was stuck on those third and fourth lines (in Niagara), behind some elite players there. Him coming over here, there’s more of an opportunity for him to flourish.”

With the Spitfires in last place in the Western Conference, McCool will be relied on to produce offence as they try to gain ground on the Plymouth Whalers, Saginaw Spirit and Sarnia Sting which all sit seven points ahead of Windsor.

“I think (we) just have to play our game, compete hard and don’t give up,” said McCool. “You’ve got to keep pushing hard and I think we’ll be fine.”

Hayden McCool recorded five points in four games since joining the Spitfires.

He was acquired from the Niagara IceDogs back on Nov. 14.